Big Ten will increase Week 1 conference games in 2020, '21

by ERIC OLSON, AP College Football Writer

Ohio State coach Urban Meyer runs off the field after shaking hands with Penn State coach James Franklin, background, after an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016, in State College, Pa. Penn State won 24-21. (Abby Drey/Centre Daily Times via AP)

CINCINNATI (AP) - The Big Ten will increase its number of conference football games in the opening weeks of the season in 2020 and 2021.

There also is a change in rivalry week in schedules announced Tuesday. Iowa will meet Wisconsin and Nebraska will play Minnesota the last week of the regular season in 2020 and 2021. Iowa and Nebraska have closed the regular season against each other since the Cornhuskers joined the conference in 2011.

East Division teams will have five home conference games and West teams will have four in 2020. The split will be reversed in 2021.

The 2020 season opens Sept. 5 with Indiana at Wisconsin, Northwestern at Michigan State and Purdue at Nebraska. The 2021 season opens Sept. 4 with Indiana at Iowa, Michigan State at Northwestern, Ohio State at Minnesota and Penn State at Wisconsin.